The latest version of the WD Photos app for iOS and Android devices has a new trick, it can directly share photos from your mobile device to a WD TV Live Hub set-top box. The press release calls it the first smartphone-to-HDTV sharing app, but we've seen similar concepts from Verizon's Flex View and apps that use DLNA to share media from mobile to the TV or TV connected devices. Still, one button press sharing is a neat trick and with the addition of the free app may be a nice feature to compete with other set-top boxes like the Roku family, Boxee Box or the Apple TV's tight iTunes / iPhoto integration. Users can grab the apps from iTunes or the Android Market at the links below, there's more details available in the press release after the break.

IRVINE, Calif. - May 17, 2011 - Western Digital® (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions and maker of the popular WD TV® media player family, today introduced the newest version of its WD Photos™ photo viewer app, which now works with the WD TV® Live™ Hub media center from an Apple® iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® or Android™ compatible smartphone or tablet.

Consumers can create content with their iOS® or Android device and send it directly to anyone with a WD TV Live Hub media center for big screen viewing and enjoyment. This feature is ideal for business travelers who want to keep in touch with their family and share their adventures in a fun and creative way. It is also a great way for students and distant family members to share life's moments as they happen.

In addition, WD Photos photo viewer app allows consumers to remotely access content stored on their WD TV Live Hub media center or My Book® Live™ network drive from their portable device, anywhere in the world. This provides access to hundreds of photos without reducing memory on a user's iPhone or Android device while allowing others on the home network to continue to enjoy the same content. And, if a user's portable device is lost or misplaced, the content still resides safely within the home.

"The WD TV Live Hub media center already lets users store and play 1 TB of their personal videos, photos and music plus enjoy the best of Internet services including Netflix®, YouTube™, Pandora® and Facebook®, all without a computer," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of WD branded products. "Now with the new release of WD Photos, the world's first smartphone-to-HDTV video sharing app, WD TV Live Hub helps users stay in touch with friends and family in high-definition."

Pinch and zoom functionality so consumers can digitally zoom in on the displayed photo;
Instantly post photos to Facebook;
Create a slideshow with transitions to create digital art;
Access previously viewed photos even when the user is offline;
View photos all at once or filter them by folder or album;
Search by file name, folder name, or date using the built-in search options;
E-mail a photo to a friend;
Assign a photo to a contact;
Supports iPhone iOS4 so user can listen to music as they view their photos;
Enables users to view their pictures on their iPad or Android tablet; and
Consumers can also allow up to four smartphones or tablets access to their WD TV Live Hub media center.

WD Photos Compatibility
Users can download the free app from the Android Market or the Apple iTunes® store. The WD Photos photo viewer app is compatible with Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch mobile devices and the most popular Android smartphones. Photos are automatically optimized for viewing on your mobile device. WD Photos photo viewer app is also compatible with leading Android tablets.

Requirements
Users must own a WD TV Live Hub media center and register with WD®'s free, secure remote access service to use the WD Photos photo viewer app. Android devices must have OS 2.1 or higher and iPhones or iPod touches must have OS 3.1 or later.

About WD
WD, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and home entertainment products.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.